The World of Darkness and Shadows.
Lu Ming hurriedly chased the shadow that was leaving.
“Wait a minute!” Lu Ming yelled.
Unfortunately, the shadow was speeding further and further away.
“Stop right there!” Lu Ming shouted.
However, the shadow did not stop.
Lu Ming was instantly furious.
“Old Jiang!
“Xiaobai is pregnant again!”
Lu Ming shouted loudly.
The shadow did not respond.
“It’s twins! A boy and a girl!” Lu Ming yelled.
The figure did not respond.
Lu Ming, “Sister says that the child cannot bear the surname of Jiang! Both have to bear the surname Lu!”
The figure did not stop.
Lu Ming was speechless.
Watching the figure walk further and further away, Lu Ming felt very helpless.
Damn!
Is Old Jiang that complacent?
Even Xiaobai’s children couldn’t stop him? I chased him immediately as soon as I discovered that he was Old Jiang. But in the end….
His speed increased the further he ran!
“He couldn’t hear you shouting to him,” Xiao-Xiaojian said contemptuously.
“This is the World of Darkness and Shadows and not the real world! It’s useless for you to shout that loudly! At most, your conversation will appear bigger in the dialog boxes!
“Even if the dialog boxes above your heads are stacked up high…
“They are also behind him!
“Jiang Feng couldn’t possibly have seen them!
“Are you a fool?!”
“No.”
Lu Ming squinted his eyes. “I have a hunch that he saw it.”
He kept having the feeling that Old Jiang saw him but… perhaps he ran away at lighting speed and disappeared in a puff because he was afraid of sharing the money with him …
He was really childish!
Was he that kind of person?!
A monk can run away but the temple won’t run with him.
Snort!
Xiaobai is still at home!
However…
Come to think of it…
He finally understood why Old Jiang had become increasingly powerful and where his resources came from! They came from the World of Darkness and Shadows!
Each assassination provided Jiang Feng with more resources!
Each assassination was the beginning of the rise in his powers!
It was to the extent that Lu Ming suspected that Jiang Feng’s legend of eternal life, the opening of the gambling shop and the bet were all hype that he created, all for the sake of earning money!
The Shadow Coins of this world were very valuable!
Lu Ming came to his senses.
Jiang Feng was not the only one who had won big this time. He had also done so!
“How did he escape from the people hunting him down?
“Feigning death like the last time?”
Xiao-Xiaojian was somewhat worried. “Or perhaps his body is already dead and only his shadow is left.
“I’ll go and investigate.”
Lu Ming put away the massive number of Shadow Coins from the gambling shop and specially went to the shop selling information. He bought unique news at a high price – The name of the founder of the Seven Kill Organization.
After a long time…
The response was three words — Jiang Yuebai.
Lu Ming was speechless.
Xiao-Xiaojian was speechless.
Damn. Jiang Yuebai!
At one glance, he could tell that Old Jiang had made use of Xiaobai’s name to create the organization. Therefore, it was possible that the entire Seven Kill Organization only consisted of one person, which was Old Jiang???
He assassinated himself and put on such a huge show?!
What did this mean?
Self-inflicted?
Lu Ming was shocked.
He took a closer look at the assassination history of the Seven Kill Organization. The timing of each of Jiang Feng’s assassination was staggered. Therefore, Old Jiang was basically the mastermind behind the whole thing!
Well…
Besides being hunted down on a usual basis, he actually hunted down others as well…
He even created a huge fame for himself.
“The old master is impressive!”
Xiao-Xiaojian exclaimed in shock.
It had lived through the ages and had never seen such a ‘bombshell’!
What did he do if he did not have any resources?
He created them!
He vanquished the gambling shop and had people wrapped around his finger!
The big shots in the reality and those present in the World of Darkness and Shadow would never have imagined that this so-called assassination of Jiang Feng was merely a game right from the start!
“Amazing!” Lu Ming exclaimed.
What else could he say?
This was no different than Trump speculating about the stock market?!
He was such a bully!
Wait a minute…
Lu Ming suddenly came to his senses and glanced at Xiao-Xiaojian. “When did he become an old master?”
“Well…”
Xiao-Xiaojian felt somewhat embarrassed. It said bashfully, “He’s Xiao-Xiaobai’s senior after all. It’s very impolite to keeping calling him Old Jiang, Old Jiang.”
Lu Ming became sullen.
Damn!
You weren’t that polite the last time!
I’m Xiaobai’s master and have the same standing as her father!
“Crap, are master and father the same?” Xiao-Xiaojian said with contempt, “Would you let Xiaobai call you father?”
“Yes.”
Lu Ming sneered.
Xiaobai is so obedient. Why wouldn’t she listen to him?
It was just that…
If she were to call him father…
He kept having a strange feeling.
Forget it.
Lu Ming rolled his eyes. Why should I argue with Xiao-Xiaojian, this moron?
He ignored his card.
Lu Ming focused his attention on what was happening before his eyes. He participated in the gambling event with only one objective in mind — To improve his combat ability!
Actually…
The activities of The First Academy did not have anything to do with him.
Their xx rewards for the top and xx rewards for the second place etc. Lu Ming could not claim! Therefore, he did not intend to be involved!
What he wanted was very simple: to improve his ability!
For the past two months, in preparation for the on-campus job fair, he and Xiao-Xiaojian had painstakingly progressed to advanced four-star! However, this was far from enough!
Look at these six-star students. Don’t you find advanced four-stars embarrassing?
Therefore…
He had to become stronger!
The on-campus job air was nearing. Initially, Lu Ming had given up but the World of Darkness and Shadows presented him with the best opportunity.
This world was very magical.
The way to improve one’s ability was very straightforward!
This was because everyone was a shadow. Therefore, one could completely absorb and purchase the most refined and purest shadow force to improve one’s combat ability!
Or perhaps…
Hunt down the shadow monsters to improve their combat ability!
This was also the original intention of the points accumulation system of The First Academy.
Of course.
This method would only increase the combat ability for the shadow!
The students needed to bring their shadows back through the Shadow Combat Suit and then integrate them with their actual bodies to form a brand new combat ability!
But this was not necessary for Lu Ming.
He entered this place in his actual body! He was improving himself directly!
Therefore…
He participated in the battle!
This was because he wanted to achieve the greatest improvement!
Shush!
Lu Ming bought a large quantity of pure shadow forces. All of them were advanced with the best absorption rate! He would let Xiao-Xiaojian get a kick out of absorbing them!
Afterward…
He published a mission in the World of Darkness and Shadows!
Hunting down monsters could earn him shadow forces?
Very well.
He would hire a group of people to capture those monsters. Lu Ming would then kill them personally and get some shadow force, enhancing his combat ability once again!
Hence…
With his massive number of Shadow Coins, Lu Ming’s combat ability was beginning to improve tremendously at an unbelievable speed!
Dash!
Dash!
The advanced four-star level that had just stabilized was beginning to move again!
So what if he had a hundred thousand points of energy?
Charge!
20%!
30%!
50%!
The powers in Lu Ming’s body were constantly tempered and increased.
In the end…
He stabilized at 80%!
He was only a step away from the peak four-star level.
Of course.
He did not notice that, under such a crazy consumption model, Zhong Chu’s personal ranking had dashed to the first place at an unbelievable speed!
Champion!
…
Somewhere.
A student watched the assessment results in disbelief. Obviously, he could not figure out why that person by the name of Zhong Chu would dash to the top place!
Also!
That damned second place…
Zhao Yunshan?
Who is that?
Oh.
He remembered now. It was that idiot who had failed his assessment!
On what grounds was he in second place?!
In his mind…
This guy has just reached five-star?
“Humph!”
There was a cold glint in his eyes. “Regardless of the methods that you guys use to clinch the top places, I will make you guys return to your original positions… Weaklings should be eliminated!”
…
Somewhere.
Zhao Yunshan was sitting cross-legged.
If Lu Ming was here, he would discover that Zhao Yunshan’s method of improving his ability was exactly the same as his!
Xiao-Xiaohou had been purchasing shadow forces twenty-four hours a day like a plug-in!
Zhao Yunshan would kill the shadow monsters caught by those whom he had hired to do so!
Of course.
The only problem was that Zhao Yunshan’s Shadow Coins were bought with a large sum of real money. He had exchanged them with the big shots from the underworld….
Therefore…
He needed time.
Therefore…
His progress was slightly slower.
Nevertheless, this did not stop him from making use of this method to improve himself!
Buzz—
Buzz—
Faint lights flashed.
The five-star level that he had just attained began to soar once again. Beginner five-star, intermediate five-star… He was advancing at a rare, lighting speed!
“I only have my shadow now!
“Therefore, this improved ability is not my true ability. Once I return to reality, the level of the shadow and the level of my body will harmonize and integrate into a brand new level!
“So…
“I have to try my best to make the shadow as powerful as possible!
“If my shadow can attain six-star or a higher level, I may become a six-star after the integration!”
Zhao Yunshan was well aware of this.
Master!
Rest assured.
I won’t embarrass the Sword Card Master vocation!
For this assessment, I will definitely be able to strive for… Eh?
Zhao Yunshan was stunned when he saw that Zhong Chu was listed as the top scorer of the assessment. Looking at his score which thrashed everyone, he felt cheated!
Amongst this group of students, there was actually someone richer than him?!
Click!
Zhao Yunshan clenched both his fists.
He felt very conflicted.
Clearly, he had already maximized the conversion of Shadow Coins but why would he lose to this person?
In terms of talent, it was normal that he would not win as he was not naturally well-endowed. He had never felt bad about this. However, money was a worldly possession and could be accumulated.
Could it be that…
This person was really wealthier than him?
Inexplicably, he felt perplexed.
Ah…
Was this the ‘sour grapes’ term that was commonly used by the students?
It turned out…
This was how it felt to be jealous.
…
In a certain community.
Lu Ming felt somewhat regretful when he got up.
He had already reached the limit of 80% progress at the advanced four-star level. This was because… All the shadow behemoths nearby had already been captured… Yes, there were none left!
If he wanted more, they would have to go to a further place and the efficiency would be too low.
Therefore…
After waiting for a moment, Lu Ming decided to change places.
Before leaving, in a shop nearby, he vaguely saw two natives from the World of Darkness and Shadow arguing with each other.
“I want to buy a mantis shadow beast. I heard that this kind of shadow beast can only survive in this area…
“What? You don’t have them anymore?
“It’s okay. I can wait. I need it for research this time… You won’t have some later?
“Wait a minute.
“What do you mean by it’s extinct?!”
…
Lu Ming, “(〃’▽’〃)”
This was truly surprising!
He remembered that a group of the shadow monsters that he had killed earlier were certainly the mantis type. Unexpectedly, they had gone extinct…
It was too tragic.
Lu Ming observed two seconds of silence to mourn for them.
However…
At this moment.
A shadow blocked Lu Ming’s path.
“Hello.”
A dialog box popped up from the other party.
“You are…”
Lu Ming was doubtful.
“I’m the owner of that ball of light,” Zhong Chu said sadly.
He did not expect the person in front of him to have already forgotten who he was.
Lu Ming coughed and immediately felt embarrassed. It turned out that he was the one that he had conned. “Sorry. Everyone is so dark. I really can’t recognize you…
“If you want the ball of light, I can give it to you.”
Lu Ming took out the ball of light.
He did not need it anymore.
“No need.”
Zhong Chu waved his hands continuously. “I’ll give this to you?”
“Huh?”
Lu Ming was surprised.
“Well…
“Can I give you the Shadow Combat Suit?” Zhong Chu asked gingerly.
Shush!
There was suddenly silence in the air.
Lu Ming and Xiao-Xiaojian could not come to their senses for a long time.
Damn!
What was happening?!
He had heard of the Stockholm syndrome but had not heard of Being Cheated Syndrome… Is this guy’s brain leaking?!
Wait a minute.
Lu Ming was alarmed.
Could it be that the World of Darkness and Shadows also had law enforcement organizations?
When the amount involved in the fraud exceeded a certain amount, one could then file a case. The value of the shadow ball of light earlier did not meet the minimum amount and, therefore, he deliberately gave this to him?!
“I’ll return this to you.”
Lu Ming quickly passed him the ball of light.
“Please don’t do this to me.”
Zhong Chu was in tears. “Man, I really don’t want it anymore!”
“I have a hunch that you’re lying to me.”
Lu Ming looked solemn.
“Really?”
“Absolutely not!”
“Can you prove it then?”
Lu Ming was on his guard.
“Alright.”
Zhong Chu smiled bitterly.
He then recovered from his senses…
Something was not right!
Clearly, this guy had conned something out of him. Why did he have to prove himself instead?!
On what grounds?!
However…
At the thought of his request, he sighed.
“Dude, we have rankings here.”
Zhong Chu was completely forthright with Lu Ming. “Look, through the Shadow Combat Suit, we can see the rankings of The First Academy’s assessment.”
“Oh?”
Lu Ming’s eyes lit up. Was there such a function?
Shush!
He lunged over and saw the familiar name in the second place – Zhao Yunshan!
Hey!
Old Zhao is good!
He knew that Old Zhao would not disappoint him. However…
First place: Zhong Chu
“Who is this Zhong Chu?”
Lu Ming frowned.
Lu Yan was not in the list!
Neither was Gao Tianlang!
It was actually someone called Zhong Chu!
Zhong Chu was silent.
He suddenly had the urge to beat someone.
“I am Zhong Chu.”
Zhong Chu did not know whether to laugh or cry.
“Oh?”
Lu Ming’s heart skipped a beat. His gaze swept across Zhong Chu. He was exuding a stable six-star aura. He suddenly thought of a possibility. Therefore, this first place…
“I did this?!” Lu Ming exclaimed.
“Yes.”
Zhong Chu sighed. “You’re that idiot.”
Lu Ming was speechless.
Why is he that vengeful despite being so young?
Oh no!
“The purpose of my trip this time is to pass you the Shadow Combat Suit.”
Zhong Chu said truthfully, “Anyway, I’ve already given up. Since you can fight for the top place, you can take this.”
“Are you sure?”
Lu Ming cast a deep glance at him.
“Without the Shadow Combat Suit, your shadow may not be able to return to reality! Once the shadow is dead, it will dissipate and not affect your body the slightest bit!
“That is not the only thing.
“You may even suffer some minor injuries!”
“I am sure about this!”
Zhong Chu had no hesitation.
What he wanted was a future!
If he could maintain the first place for a long time, wouldn’t the various associations look at him in a different light?!
He wanted the rewards of the graduation season!
“Deal!”
Lu Ming’s eyes lit up.
Hence…
Zhong Chu removed his clothing…
“The two of you.”
The warden of the community passed by. “Nudity is prohibited in public.”
Lu Ming was speechless.
Zhong Chu was speechless.
What could two shadows do?!
“Let’s go somewhere else.”
Lu Ming sighed.
He remembered that, although in their eyes, everyone was a blurry, transformed shadow and they did not need to be too bothered, but in the eyes of the locals…
Well…
Perhaps they had been too revealing?
Hence…
Lu Ming reserved a room in a shadow hotel nearby. Under the uncanny gaze of the service staff, he led Zhong Chu inside and then removed his clothing.
Buzz—
The Shadow Combat Suit assembled automatically.
Various kinds of intriguing assessment abilities appeared.
The voices of thoughts being transmitted…
The screen of the assessment rankings…
Wait a minute.
It turned out that this was the visual angle of the students in the assessment?
“What are you going to do then?”
Lu Ming looked at Zhong Chu.
“I’ll be alright!”
Zhong Chu shook his head. “I will hide here until the assessment ends. I just don’t have any Shadow Coins…”
“Oh, take this.”
Lu Ming passed him some money.
“Thank you.”
Zhong Chu was grateful.
Hence…
Lu Ming drifted away.
At this very moment…
At the shadow hotel, a few service staff were whispering amongst themselves.
“Should we arrest them?”
“I don’t think there is a need to.”
“You’ve seen it for yourself. They removed their clothes. After that was over, money was given… Also, it’s two guys! I saw words such as ‘ejaculation’ [1. Similar to the pronunciation of Zhong Chu in chinese]… It is too scary!”
…
After leaving the hotel.
Lu Ming was thrilled.
He never thought that he would participate in the graduation season assessment in this way…
Zhong Chu?
He was quite nice, although his name was a little risque…
However…
Just as he wanted to change to another place to improve his ability.
Suddenly…
Lights and shadows circled.
The screen on the Shadow Combat Suit popped out.
Oh?
Lu Ming was filled with curiosity.
Tsk tsk…
The students in the assessment had certainly been given a better visual angle.
Shush!
Rows of huge letters appeared on the screen and then dissipated.
“Children…
“Are you familiar with this world already?
“Over the past few days, the main objective was to familiarize you with the rules and the survival mode of this world. Now, the assessment has officially begun…”
